Incubator.



' No. 846,325. D PATENTED MAR. 5,1907.

GME. LITTLEFIELD.

INOUBATOR.

APPLICATION FILED I'BB. 16. 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FIGQZ.

GEoRGE E. LITTLEFIE'LD, 0E BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

INCUBATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed February 16, 1905. Serial No. 245,847.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. LITTLE- 1 FIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a l resident of 54 Johnson Park, Buflalo, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have I invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Incubators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to incubators, and has for its object to providemeans for supplying moisture effectively to the incubatorchamber, meansfor controlling and regulating the heating and ventilation of theincubator-chamber, and means whereby certain of its parts are maderemovable and its interior rendered easily accessible.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the incubator and heater.Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken between the diaphragm 8 and theegg-trays 15, as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on theline X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is the upper part of the I heater on the lineX X of Fig. 2, showing a modified form. Fig. 5 is the same View as thelast, but shows the dampers raised; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section onthe line 6 6 of Fi 3. a

The body 1 of the incubator is represented as cylindrical in form andsupported by four simi ar legs 2 2 2 2. A door 3 gives access to theincubator. A false top 4, (see Fig. 3,) by which the heat-regulator issupported, is secured within the incubator by the cleat ,5. Below thefalse top 4 there is a strip 6, i (see Figs. 3 and 6,) that extendstransversely across the incubator and is supported by a cleat 7. Thefunction of this strip 6 will presently appear. Below the strip 6 thereis a porous or felt diaphragm 8, and the space between accommodates athermostat. The diaphragm 8 is stretched upon a frame 9, and the latteris attached to the side of the incubator or otherwise held in place.

The egg-trays are supported bya spiderframe, and upon each of the armsof this I frame there as a central longitudinal ridge 1 l3 and on eachside of the ridge a ledge 14. The egg-trays 15, of which there are sixto correspond with the six arms of the spider-frame, are wedged-shapedand rest] upon the ledges 14 of adjacent. arms of the frame. Thespiderframe is supported within the incubator-chamber by a cleat, 16,which is representedv as beveled at 17. A split hoop 18, of wire, whosevends are separated the depth of the cleat 16, lies upon l the beveledface 17 of the cleat and supports A porous diaphragm, made up of a layerof burlaps 19 and a lower layer of felt 20, is stretched upon theringlike frame 21 and attached thereto by tacks. The frame 21 lies uponthe bottom 23 of the incubator, which is removably held in place bybuttons 24 or other suitable means. The bottom 23 of the incubator isperforated, as at 25, so that the space 22 between the lower diaphragmand the bottom 23 of the incubator is in free communication with theouter atmosphere. This construction affords distinctadvantages in thatthe incubator can readily be opened and its parts removed forcleaning orrepairing. When the bottom 23 is removed, the lower diaphragm comes outwith it. The egg-trays are taken out through the doorway 3 in the sideof the incubator. The spider supporting-frame 10 for the eg -trays andthe hoop 18 are both removable through the open bottom by tilting andturning them till they clear the cleat 16, or the spider-frame isremoved by first drawing the ends of two adjacent arms out through thedoorway 3, which is wide enough for their passage, then tilting theframe so that these two arms can be drawn still further out, and a thirdarm also withdrawn, after which the frame can readily be slipped out.Thus the whole incubating-chamber is stripped and its parts separated,so that they can be examined, cleaned, and, repaired.

The heating means comprises a heat-generator and a heat-distributer. Theheatgenerator is attached to and supported by the incubator-body 1 andis constructed as follows: Two fiucs are formed by placing a tube 26within a larger tube 27. The outer tube 27 is suitably supported in avertical position-as, for instance, by attachment to a reservoir 28 onthe side of the incubatorand the inner tube 26 is attached to andsupported by the top 29, which overlies and is fastened to the outertube 27. The flue 30, between the inner tube 26 and the outer tube 27,is open to the atmosphere at the bottom of said tube 27 and alsocommunicates with the outer air by means of several tubes 31, that leadout through the top 29 and project up an equal distance therefrom. Theinner tube 26 is open at both. ends. A rim 32 is shown upon the top 29around the opening at the upper end of the tube 26, and the interior ofsaid tube 26 is visible through the spider frame.

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the peep-hole 26!; at the lower end of said tube 26, which is coveredwith mica and is in alinement with a peep-hole in the outer tube 27.

A burner 33 of a lamp 34 iits snugly within the open lower end of thetube 26, and dampers 35 and 36 are adapted to lie upon the rim 32 andthe tops of the tubes 31, respectively, and so to close, respectively,the opening at the upper end of the inner tube 26 and the openings attheupper end of the flue 30. The lamp is supported beneath the heater bymeans of a bracket 37, that is fastened at one end to the removablebottom of the incubator. An open tank 38 for water is fastened upon thetube 26 beneath the open lower end of the flue 30, so that air must passover the water as it enters the flue, and an arm 39 is shown on the tank38, that helps to support the lamp-bracket 37 by a spring 4.0. When thebottom of the incubator is to be removed, the spring 40 is firstdisconnected from the arm The. operation of the heater is as follows:The products of combustion pass up through the inner tube 26, heatingits surface, while air for heating the incubator enters the open lowerend of the flue 30 and is heated by contact with the heated surface ofthe inner tube 26. The fresh air to support combustion is drawn into thelamp through the usual perforations beneath the burner-cone. Theheatdistributor comprises means for discharging into the incubator theair that is heated during its passage through the flue 30 and also meansfor heating the air within the incubator by direct radiation from theflues through which both the products of combustion and the heated airpass. A flue 41 for the products of combustion leads from the tube 26near its upper end diametrically through the incubator. It is showndirectly beneath the false top 4, (see Fig. 2,) and discharges throughthe side of the incubator into atmosphere at 42. The heated air passesfrom the flue 30 into the incubator through the flue 43, formed betweenthe tube 41 and the larger surrounding tube 44. The tube 44 is extendedinto the incubator to about its center and is open at its outer end, sothat the heated air from the flue 30 is discharged into the incubator atthe point where it will best be diff used throughout the chamber. N otonly, therefore, will the incubator-chamber be heated by theintroduction of fresh heated air from the flue 30, (con tinued in theflue 43,) but the air of the incubator will, fiuthermore, be heated bydirect radiation from both the heated tubes 41 and 44.

. It is obvious that the volume of heated air that passes through theflue 43 and thence into the incubator can be controlled and regulated bymeans of the damper 36, which is adapted to lie upon and close the tubes31 that lead directly to the atmosphere from the flue 30. It is equallyclear that the volume of heated gases and air that passes through theflue 41 can be controlled and regulated by means of the damper 35, thatis adapted to close the open end of the tube 26, through which theproducts of combustion are discharged. lf the damper 36 is raised so asto give the air free vent from the tubes 31, practically all the airthat is heated within the flue 30 will pass out through the tubes 31 andnone of it will enter the incubator-chamber through the flue 43. On theother hand, if the damper 36 is raised less than that, part of the airheated within the flue 30 will pass out through the tubes 31 and partwill enter the incubator. The relative proportions are regulated by theheight of the damper. So it is with respect to the regulation of the proportions of the waste gases of combustion that pass off through theopening at the top of the tube 26 and out from the tube 41,respectively. Thus the temperature of the incubator maybe controlled bymanipulating said dampers 35 and 36.

Since the sources of heat are twofoldviz., the volumes of waste gasesthat pass through the flue 41 and the volume of hot air that passes intosaid incub ator-chamber from the flue 30and these are each independentlycontrolled, it becomes possible to maintain a steady temperature withina small range.

A thermostat is employed to regulate the temperature. The thermostatshown comprises metal strips 45 and 46, that are bowed outwardly awayfrom each other at 47 and 48, respectively. The strips rest within thestirrup 49, that is attached to the strip 6. A stem 50 is fastened tothe arched part 47 of the strip 45 and extends up through the false top4 of the incubator. A lever 51 is pivotally supported at 52 upon a block53 and is perforated above the stem 50 to receive a thumb-screw 54. Thelatter has a screwthreaded recess to receive the threaded end of thestem 50. One end of the lever carries a rod 55, that passes throughperforations 56 and 57 in the dampers 36 and 35, respectively. A head 58on the end of the rod engages the under side of the damper 35. Thescrew-threaded end 59 of the lever carries an adjustable weight 60. Asthe metal of the strips 45 and 46 expands and contracts with the changeof temperature within the incubator, the arcs-of their respectiveportions 47 and 48 change, raising or lowering the stem 50, as the casemay be, and consequently the lever 51. If the lever is in the positionshown in Figs. 2 and 4, in which both the tube 26 and the flue 30 areclosed, a rise in temperature will cause the parts 47 and 48 of themetal strips 45 and 46, respectively, to expand and force up the lever51. A small movement will lift the damper 35,, but may not disturb thedamper 36, and in this case the products of combustion will pass awayfrom under the closed damper 36 and between the tubes 31. If thetemperature continues to rise Within the incubator, the damper 36 willalso be raised from its seat, and if the dampers are raised clear fromtheir seats all heat will be cut off from the incubator. The thermostatis adjusted by means of the thumb-screw 54 and weight 60, and access isgained to these by removing the lid 61.

Another novel feature of my incuhatcr movable bottom; an egg-tray; adiaphragm beneath said egg-tray for the diffusion of air Within thechamber, and adapted to be removed when the bottom of said chamber isopen.

2. An incubator-chamber having a door, and a removable bottom; anegg-tray removable through said door; a supportingframe for saidegg-tray and a diaphragm beneath it, for diffusing air through thechamber, both supporting-frame and diaphragm being removable when thebottom of said and one that is important is found in the chamber isopen. j

3. In an incubator, the combination wlth means whereby moisture issupplied to tlie air before it enters the incuhatcr from the heater.Attention has already been called to the water-tank 38, which is locatedjust beneath the inlet of the flue 30, so that all the air that entersthe incubator must pass over the water in this cup. Another Waterreservoir 28 is placed at the point Where the heated air enters theincubator from the heater. This is the point at which the heated airacquires its highest temperature, and consequently its greatest capacityfor absorbing moisture. The reservoir is so located that all of the airpassing from the the incubating-chamber, of a heater comprising acentral flue for products of combustion, open to the atmosphere at itsupper end; a concentric surrounding flue for hot air, also open at itsupper end; means for discharging the heated air from the heater into thechamber; dampers adapted to close, respectively, the fines abovementioned; a thermostat Within said chamber; and means operated by saidthermostat for opening and closing said dampers succes- 4. In anincubator, the combination with heater into the incubator must pass overthe the incubating-chamber, of a hot-air heater,

water in the tank. shown in the drawings the tank 28 is represented asbuilt around the tubes 41 and 44, and the pipe 44 is perforated at 62and 63 to connect the hot-air flue 43 with the reser voir. A cap 64gives access to the reservoir. The location of the reservoir adjacent tothe heated surface of the tube 27 and its proximity to the heated tube41 maintains the water within said tube near the point of vaporization.The air that enters the incubator from the heater is thus suppliedbefore it enters the incubator with that additional moisture which it isadapted to hold by reason of its gain in heat while passing through theheater, and so when the air enters the incubator it does not take waterfrom the eggs to their injury.

The operations of the heater and thermostat have been described. Theventilation is effected by the introduction of the fresh air through theheater in the manner de scribed, its diflusion through the incubator land out through the perforations 25, in the course of which it passesdownwardly through the diaphragm 8 above the eggtrays and that belowthem comprised of the layers 19 and 20 of porous materials.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. An incubator-chamber. having a re- In theconstruction a l I l I l water-reservoir adjacent to said heater andwarmed thereby; a flue for discharging heated air from the heater to thechamber, extending through said reservoir above the water-line and openthereto.

5. In an incubator, the combination with the incubating-chamber, of ahot-air heater; a water-reservoir adjacent to said heater and warmedthereby; a flue for conducting the waste products of combustion fromsaid heater through said reservoir and chamber to the atmosphere; a tubearound said flue, extending from said heater through said reservoirabove the water-line, and open thereto, into said chamber.

6. In an incubator, the combination with the incubating-chamber, of ahot-air heater comprising a flue for the products of combustion and anadjacent flue for the heated air; reservoirs, adapted to supply moistureto the air at the inlet and outlet, respectively, of the hot-air flue ofsaid heater; a flue for the heated air leading from the hot-air flue insaid heater,- through the reservoir at this point into said chamber.

GEO. E. LITTLEFIELD.

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